The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-23
An Adventure With Lions.

MIR. II. =. oelOuS mas Deen writing 10
The London Field some interesting ex-
oeriences with lions In Central South
Africa. In recent issue he de-
'cribes an exceedingly fortunate days
port. While riding with a compan-
on in search OF game for food, his at
IGNITION was attracted by the shout
ng of number OF Kaffirs. On gallop-
ne up to them there we're cries OF "a
ionl lionl" "There! therel close in
'ront Of you, lying fiat on theground."
Mr.. Selous' narrative proceeds: al
instantly saw him--a male lion,
,rouched perfectly fiat, with his head
on his outstretched paws, and certain.
y not more than twenty yards from
me. / was too close to feel in
,ined to dismount, especially as
was riding a steady shooting
horse. To rein in, turning my horse
1t the same time, and to raise my
rifle was the work OF D moment. My
horse, however, would not keep per-
'ectly still; and as was trying to get
The sight on to the lions nose below
the eyes, saw him draw in his fore
legs, which had been stretched out I'M
der his chest; then his whole body
luivered. | knew what these signs
portended, and that he was on the
point OF charging. Just then fired,
and made q very lucky shot, az, ow-
ing to the slight movements OF the
horse, ! could not get a steady one.
Seeing what was coming, I just touch
ed the trigger as the sight crossed the
lions face, and, luck being on my
side, the bullet struck him exactly
between the eyes. 1t drilled "
small hole through the 'front.'
al bone, where it struck and
blew off a large piece at the back OF
the brainpan. Death OF course, was in
Simultaneous, and at once set to
work to skin him. He was fair sized
male in the prime of life. As soon as
we had skinned him, Laer and Iagain
started on in front, closely followed
by the Kaflirs.
1--WE had just entered the belt OF
forest on the further side OF which
an the valley where my camp was
situated, when Laer, who was some
thirty yards in front OF me stopped,
and turning around, beckoned TO me.
As came near, said: What is it,
Laer?' ITS another lion, sir he
answered. 'Where?' | asked dropping
.he reins and working rs hard as |
could to unfold the skin that was
twisted round my waist, while at
fine same time | sought everywhere
with my eyes in front OF me.
However, | could not make him out;
but just as / got the skin loose and
let it drop to the ground, up jumped
lion with q loud purr some fifty yards
in front OF me, and went off through
the forest as hard as he could. Luck.
lily through the stems OF the trees,
there was but little underground, and
the grass was nothing like so long and
thick as in the valleys, except indeed
at the bases of the enormous ant-heaps
with which these forests are studded,
where the grass always grows longer
and thicker than anywhere else. AS
the lion made off, dug my spurs in
to my horses ribs, and, after race
OF three or four hundred yards, the
lion, finding that he could not get
away from me, stopped suddenly at
one of the large ant-heaps | have
spoken Of faced round and stood with
glaring eyes and open mouth, his head
held low between his shoulders, look
ing as savage as he could, growing
hoarsely, and twitching the end of his
tail from side to side. Pulling in my
horse, | tried to fire again from his
back; but he was excited by the gal
lop, or prehaps the growing OF the
lion disconnected him, and he would
not stand still at all. My antagonist
looked so nasty that scarcely liked
dismounting, 40 l was pretty close 10
him; and when a lion is driven to bay
it is impossible to tell at what instant
he may make up his mind to charge.
l dismounted, however, and. taking
quick but steady sight, planted n
bullet Just between his neck and
shoulder, on receiving which he reared
himself w with a loud roar and fell
over sideways, while l inwardly said
to myself, I've got him. The hon was
lying half in and half out of the long
grass; but on regaining the saddle !
again looked ut the same spot, the
lion was gonel l felt sure had given
MIN a dead shot, and / thought he
must have managed to wriggle himself
into the long grass, and might be lying
there dead. rode closer, then right
up to the grass, which stood in patch
round the base OF the ant.heap, but
was over six feet in height and was
very thick. l could, however, neither
see nor hear anything. The sun was
now nearly il not quite down. After